Valve tool



Feb. 23, 1943. A. E. MILLER 2,311,956

VALVE TOOL Filqd June 19, 1941 Patented Feb. 23, 1943 UNETED STATES earr; r

4 Claims.

This invention refers to the valve mechanism of internal combustionengines and the like, and more particularly to a tool or device formanipulating valve heads and stems, so they may be readily assembled,inspected or repaired. It has among its objects to provide a tooladapted to be quickly installed on the body of an engine and adjusted tocontrol the valve heads and stems therein; to have such tool portable,light, simple in construction and arranged to utilize parts or portionsof the engine for its attachment thereto; and to have its attachmentarrangements and mechanism for handling and use on the complete set ofvalve heads and stems of poly-cylinder engine by a single individual,without requiring undue strength or effort. Another object is to providearrangements for adjusting its placement to suit the tension of theengine parts or their positions.

Other objects will become apparent as the invention is more fully setforth.

' The matter of removing or replacing valve heads and stems of aconventional internal combustion engines, in the customary manner,requires considerable effort, careful manipulation, and involves dangerto the operator. The tension of the various springs acting on each ofthe stems is substantial. For four and six cylinder engines, the valveheads and stems are eight and twelve respectively and are proportionallyincreased in total tension. The operator is unable to handle more thanone valve head at a time, and this is usually done in an inconvenientand tedious manner. This invention consists of a tool or device thatenables the user to attach it in a few moments on the engine. Then withthe manipulation of a handle and the tightening of a few parts to set itproperly in place, in control of the valve heads and stems, ready topermit any desired work to be done thereon, without further attention tothe tool or device. The device overcomes the tension of the springsreadily and pushes the heads and stems down to suit the work to be doneon them. The engine may be rotated to bring different values in variouspositions without affecting the efficacy of the device or requiring anychange or adjustment therein. The tool is kept in place, during thewhole process of fixing the engine, and when the work is done may bequickly removed.

In the drawing which illustrates an embodiment of this invention:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a valve holding tool embodying thisinvention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the valve holding tool; shown mounted onan engine block.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of a. modified form of the tool, using anangle frame.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of another modified form of this invention;using resilient material.

Figure 5 is another modification using a flat plate frame with anintegral handle.

Similar reference characters refer to the same parts throughout thedrawing.

In the drawing, 1 represents an engine block partly broken away to showthe attachment of and use with of a valve holding tool 2. This tool ordevice consists in the preferred form of construction for the same, of achannel or other conventional angle-iron piece 3 having its flanges 4pending downwardly, and with lugs 5 at the sides. These lugs areprovided with holes 01. slots 6 which enable the lugs to fit onconventional studs 1 threaded into the bolt holes 8 of the engine block.There are a number of these bolt holes that are available for usedistributed over the face of the engine block, but for this purpose,those near the front and back portions are preferred. When the lugs arein place the long hexagon nuts 9 are threaded on to fasten the channelin place, over the valve heads ill and stems H projecting from same intothe engine valve openings I2 and passages l3 on to the operating camsI4. The usual springs 15, with the pins I6 and Washers I! are alsoincluded.

A suitable number of coil springs l8, attached to the under side of thechannel by clips l9 punched out from the latter and bent over the wireto hold them securely in place. Their position between the flanges 4keeps them guided and prevents their buckling up when under pressurefrom the valve heads, when the device is being used practically. Thesprings are longer than the flanges and are tensioned sufliciently tobear hard on the valve heads which they align with respectively. Yet notso hard as to prevent the valves being raised off their seats 20, whenthe crank shaft is turned. The tension of the springs I8 is intended tobecome neutral in resistance, so the operator can fix them, grind theseats or perform any other work in their connection. In order to placethe channel on and align its springs I8 with the heads of the valve andplace the nuts 9 in position to be screwed down, without difficulty, alever arm 2| is provided. This lever arm has a slot 22 in its centralportion to allow a holding stud 23 to hold it and also allow alongitudinal movement and a rotary travel. Then end portion 24 isarranged with an L-shaped jaw 25 adaptable for engagement with the headof a bolt 26 or other suitable part of the engine that will afford afulcrum for the handle to give the necessary leverage to force down thechannel against the block face. The lever is preferably installed nearone end, so that the channel can be started on the studs at the other,and when sufiiciently mounted so it will stay on that end, then presseddown at the other end against the resistance offered by the springs.This has the efiect of making the channel react as a lever itself withthe studs holding it as a fulcrum.

When the channel is held down properly, with its springs pressing on thevalve heads so the pressure of the valve springs reacting on the stemsand heads is overcome, the pin or other arrangement in the stemcooperating with them; may be removed easily, and the stem and valveloosened ready to be taken out. valve stems are loosened, the channel istaken oif the studs and the valve parts lifted out, and the grindingprocess proceeded with. The position of the cams on. the cam shaft makesit necessary to rotate the crank to bring each valve head up, so thedevice can. exert the pressure of its respective coil spring on it, andthereby loosen. the stem and permit the pin to be removed. When this isdone the valve head and stem is ready to be taken out, whenv the channelis moved off the block. The pressure exerted by the springs. of thedevice is not great enough to prevent. the valves to. be raised, but.

isin excess. of the springs of the stems so as toneutralize thev latter.

The nuts 9 are made long to allow the wrench usedto work same. morereadily. They extend above thechannel to the wrench. Studs are used inthis example, as they are convenient to employ for the purpose andaiford a practicalprojection on whichto work the device and get thedesired reactive resistance to the springs tending to raise the channel.

Figure 3 indicates a. modified construction where the angle member 43 isused in place of the channel described previously. In this case thelever arm can be run through slots 44 in the apex of the angle.

Figure 4 utilizes a flatmetal bar 50, and avoids the use of lugs for thestuds to connect to.

Figure 5 utilizes a resilient material 60, in place of the coil or othertype of spring, and for some instances where the device would be moresuitable or. economical. be. of rubberorsimilar plastic cementedonto thebar rigidly. The form-of the member. 50 is shownas aflat plate, forreasons of simplicity. Fig.5- has an. integral handle 5l in place of theleverZi for exertingforceto mass the device I, on the last. pair ofbolts.

While several forms. of the invention are. indicatedin. the drawing.anddescribed in the speci- When all the The material may a engine, and ahandle fication, it is not desired to limit this application to suchconstructions or in any other way, otherwise than limited by the scopeindicated, as it is appreciated that other structures could be madeusing the same principles and coming Within the interpretation of theclaims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A valve tool of the class described comprising in combination, anangle piece having holes therein adapted to pass over studs mounted onthe body of a conventional internal combustion engine, springs securedto the angle piece and operating between the flanges thereof andproiecting, said springs being adapted to resiliently contact the valveheads of the said engine simultaneously, nuts adjustable on the studsfor holding and impressing the angle piece thereon, and keeping pressureon the valve heads, and means for facilitating the removal or placementof the angle piece and springs against the said valve heads said meansbeing attached to the angle piece and. adapted to operate on the upperportion. of the body.

2. A valve tool. of the. class described, comprising in combination, amember having holes therein for mounting the same onpredeterminedexternal portions of an internal combustion engine, springsattached to the-member adapted to align. with the valve heads of engine,when.

predetermined external pormounted. on said tions to contact the same,and permit the valve heads with. their stems to be'operated on andneutralized.

3. Avalve holding device comprising in combination, a rigid memberadapted to align over the. valve heads and stems of an internalcombustion engine, resilient elements mounted onthe member arranged toalign with the valve heads and exertpressure thereon when: in positionover same, means attachable toone of the holding bolts of the block foradjustably securing the member and elements in place and permittingthevalve heads and stems to be neutralized so they may be loosened from theengine.

4. A valve head and stem holder comprising incombination a frame havingattachments thereon. for adjustably securing it to an internalcombustion engine, a plurality of resilient mem bers fastened to theframe adapted to engage the upper surface of the valve heads and neu'-tralize their normal tension to permit detachment of, the valve headsand stems from the extending from the frame having a slot adapted toslip under a projectingportion on the upper portion of the engine awayfrom the. valve mechanism and heads for providing leverage. for theforcing of the frame and members towards the engine while attaching samethereto.

ANDREW E. MILLER.

